Another day without sewing … good thing I’ve already gotten everything on my list done but I’m still thinking I’ll get a Quick Strippie pieced at some point this week and I might make some more masks too.

I did laundry and chores today … all my guest beds are made up and ready for the next overnight visitors which might not be until we come back in September. We’ll probably see Chris and Becky before we leave but I don’t know if they’ll stay overnight.

We had terrible storms this afternoon … one reason I didn’t sew … but managed to get out for another 3 mile hike after it cleared. Deer, bear, snakes … we never know what we’ll see on our hikes. Today it was a turtle.

And Keith had a herd of deer come up to his window today while he was working. I can’t believe how close they get to the house. We’ve seen the mama and babies in the back several times in the last couple weeks too. We never saw deer at the condo although we would see them when we were driving or hiking … we’re very close to the lake here so I’m assuming our yard is just in the path they take to and from it.

We had a nice visit with Adam and the kids this weekend. Yes, that’s me playing cornhole … Keith arranged with Chris to have two boards made … one for the Washington Redskins and one for the Vikings … guess which team is mine?!

I crocheted a little this afternoon … still don’t think I’m going to get this blanket done before I leave but I am more than 3/4 of the way through it. One more week here in Big Canoe …

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I went searching for a pattern using the elastic and found some with the pleated masks but the one I liked best allowed me to use my templates that my sister and her friend developed and the elastic goes around the head not around the ears. I used 22 inches of 1/4 inch “rope” elastic for Becky’s and 20 inches for Caleb’s. I threaded it through the casings, overlapped it 1/2 inch and sewed the ends together. That join can be hidden in the casing on the side of the mask

I got a photo today of our bench being installed at the cemetery. He told me that they’ll do the landscaping around it once it’s not quite so hot – some small bushes and grass. We both love it! Knowing we were going to be cremated, I always expected to be in a drawer somewhere … the bench is way cooler … and I can see my Dad’s grave from it. Not something I could do if I was in a different part of the cemetery. I’m so happy they were willing to work with me to find a spot near Dad.

And finally, another recipe to share. I found this Instant Pot astrill 安卓 安装包 a couple months ago and have served it several times. It’s one of Keith’s favorites. We had it again for dinner and he loved it.

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I don’t have much cause to be out running errands these days but I needed to run to the post office (we do not get home delivery so I go 2-3 times a week to pick up the mail) and the drug store today. I happened to drive by an old train depot in Jasper – the sign said Pickens County Mercantile and Quilt Shop and since I didn’t realize that a shop had opened up in Jasper, I just had to check it out (only 1 other customer and the owner were in the shop and all 3 of us were wearing masks). It’s a cute little shop and I bought a few things. They also have some yarn so it’s a good local resource for me.

I also decided after waffling back and forth and back and forth … that I was going to get a haircut. It’s been 5 months since my last one and I was looking pretty shaggy. With us heading back to Tampa soon, I couldn’t stand the thought my longer hair in the August heat … but there was no way I was going to visit a salon in Tampa. The shop only had 2 stylists working, only 2 customers were allowed in the shop with everyone else waiting outside, and everyone had masks on.

I’m sure we are more restrictive than some about what we will and won’t do during these times, and more liberal than others. We’ve discussed our risk factors and feel like my risk is moderate and that Keith’s is pretty low. The haircut and the quick stop in the quilt shop weren’t absolutely necessary but precautions were taken. I’ll admit I’m tired of the constant debate with myself about what is and is not safe and am looking forward to an effective vaccine and life returning somewhat to normal one of these days.

Not quite the glamour shot that Finn had after his visit to the beauty parlor yesterday but better than before!

I think I’ve spent as much time moving these blocks around as I spent making them. Not sure if this is the final arrangement or not but I’m ready to be done with this top so it’s time to decide and start assembling.

Can you stand another photo of Finn? He was groomed today – he’s really struggled with the heat this summer and I know it’s going to be worse in Tampa in a couple weeks so I had him shaved short. He’s so handsome!

I’m trying to teach Finn not to bark at the deer in the yard … he’s doing better and most of the time he just lets out a low growl…except the other day when he completely missed this one at the window of Keith’s office. I’m a little jealous because Keith sees more deer in the front yard from his office window than I do in the back yard from my sewing room!

With Keith home all the time, the days run together but we’re having a nice weekend. Some hiking, some games, picnicking, and a little piecing and crochet too! We did not do all 8 miles yesterday … the plan was to do 3-4 miles (there’s a LOT of climbing) but we decided to call it a day when the thunder started up. It never did anything more than drizzle a bit on the way home but I don’t like to risk getting caught out in the woods with lightning!

We also hung some new photos. Years ago I had a bunch of canvas type photos that we put on the wall going up the stairs but Keith hadn’t wanted to rehang them in years. I wanted to hang some of the recent photos here at Big Canoe without spending a fortune or even making it a big deal so I told him I was going to try astrill吧. We hung them up today and both love them. It’s not fancy but I’m not a fancy kind of person!

I’m sure I’m not the only one realizing that we’re going to be wearing masks for a long time. I made some more today for Keith, Chris, Rae, and one for Mo to try on for size. For Keith, I tried a pleated one with elastic for the first time. He really likes the ease of just slipping the elastic over his ears and not having to tie anything. Chris got 2 camping and 2 baseball ones, and I made Mo’s a little smaller than Rae’s and I’m hoping it fits.

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It’s unbelievable to me that people refuse to wear them. I’m disgusted with the lack of leadership shown by Trump and the governors of Georgia and Florida during the pandemic, and I’m very fearful about the pressure for schools to open up with in-person classes in areas with surging cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

I plan to keep our circle small and restrict myself to activities like hiking, kayaking, quilting, reading, crochet, and maybe even some knitting. That sounds like plenty to keep me busy doesn’t it?!